Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Anaylsis of product- Representation & Narrative
For AS last year I created a film opening following the genre of thriller. The film followed a young girl who's boyfriend had split up with her and she has become slowly obsessed with him and things take a drastic turn when she is seen crushing pills and walks out the door. She is frequently seen rubbing his face out of pictures and constantly crying. The scene ends with the main character walking out the room with the mixture in her pocket. The mise-en-scene represents a typical teenage girls life, set in a suburban house with a pink bedroom and messy which represents our character well. Also the blonde hair and feminine clothes represents the typical conventions of a teenage girl. Gaye Tuchman's theory can be related to our character because Tuchman found that men were always portrayed in an authorative position and the story revolves around her upset about a male which also relates to this theory showing that women are weaker and emotional because of a man. Facial expressions used by our female character were also important because it was important that we kept the 'emotional female' stereotype. We continued to represent females as the dominant way we see them in society. Trevor Millium's theory of female expressions can be related to the change in the protaganist's character from over emotional to narcissistic showing that although what we saw as a passive woman we now see as this powerful character subverting what we saw in Prom Night.
The conventions we followed are from typical american thrillers. We studied 'Prom Night' and 'Obsession' to look at the conventions including lighting, mise en scene, camera work, sound and editing. We looked at the female characters in the films. In Obsessed the character of Lisa is blonde and pretty but becomes slowly obsessed with her boss. She conforms to the stereotypical woman being pretty and submissive towards a man but then taking subverting this stereotype as she becomes a dominant force in her bosses life, in a negative way. In Prom Night, the main character Donna is a young teenage girl who is pretty and a typical young girl looking forward to her prom. Although she did not play the obsessed character the story line followed ours somewhat. The theory of the male gaze can be related somewhat to the idea of the conventional character more so in the actual trailers, but our main character was blonde and wore feminine clothes which could appeal to a male audience as she conformed to a stereotype. As well as Laura Mulvey's theory, Tessa Perkins theory that stereotypes are simple and shorthand ways of a quite complex relationship can be seen, on face value our character looks like a upset teenage girl over a boyfriend, nothing unusual but as we delve deeper we see a twisted and dark personality slowing creeping through.
In terms of lighting we found that it was very 'american' in the trailers we watched which was hard to recreate. From the title of 'Prom Night' we immediately know it is an American film. Although the common factor we found was that they focused on a female protagonist which we made sure we included. Rather than using lighting as much we focused on the colouring of our trailer in editing. In the trailers we watched there was a lot of dark lighting used when something bad was going to happen, we subverted this by using black and white for the past and colour for the present which gave it a good effect that was easy to understand. In editing also we used an effect to portray the main characters state of mind which involved there being a slightly frenzied shot showing her anger and mentality. We looked at the camera shots used in the trailers we were studying and found that were many close ups on the main characters face when something was going to happen and shots from an outside perspective as if they were being watched. We used a shot similar to this when our character was crushing an unknown mixture, this created a sense of enigma as we had no idea what she was doing. Extreme close ups and close ups were used frequently which we implemented in emotional scenes such as when she is crying. We studied many conventions of thrillers, some we were able to recreate and use others such as the typical American conventions we couldn't.
In terms of Narrative theories, our product following one female protaganist who is becoming obsessed with a boy. Roland Barthes theory can relate to the ending of our trailer as all the audience see is the character walking out of her bedroom door with the unknown mixture in her pocket. As an audience we are left wondering what was in the mixture and where is she going. There being one main protaganist and two other characters featured throughout, being the ex boyfriend and our main characters best friend. Todorovs theory can be applied to the three characters. The protaganist, the antagonist can be perhaps seen as the ex boyfriend as he causes her to become this way and the friend could be seen as the helper as she tries to talk her out of what she is doing and help her. Although our trailer does also subvert this theory as it could be argued that the main character is a victim as she has been hurt and the consequences of the hurt make her become villianous. The whole story revolves around a loss of love and hate which relates to Levi-Strausse's theory of binary oppositions. We see a love/hate relationship because she loves him so much that she hates him because he has hurt her. This is conventional to stereotypes as it is usually assumed that when a break up occurs the woman is always left hurt and emotionally un-stable whereas the man gets on with things.
^^
I didnt know whether we had to write a seperate post with the narrative theories so I have included it with my representation.
The conventions we followed are from typical american thrillers. We studied 'Prom Night' and 'Obsession' to look at the conventions including lighting, mise en scene, camera work, sound and editing. We looked at the female characters in the films. In Obsessed the character of Lisa is blonde and pretty but becomes slowly obsessed with her boss. She conforms to the stereotypical woman being pretty and submissive towards a man but then taking subverting this stereotype as she becomes a dominant force in her bosses life, in a negative way. In Prom Night, the main character Donna is a young teenage girl who is pretty and a typical young girl looking forward to her prom. Although she did not play the obsessed character the story line followed ours somewhat. The theory of the male gaze can be related somewhat to the idea of the conventional character more so in the actual trailers, but our main character was blonde and wore feminine clothes which could appeal to a male audience as she conformed to a stereotype. As well as Laura Mulvey's theory, Tessa Perkins theory that stereotypes are simple and shorthand ways of a quite complex relationship can be seen, on face value our character looks like a upset teenage girl over a boyfriend, nothing unusual but as we delve deeper we see a twisted and dark personality slowing creeping through.
In terms of lighting we found that it was very 'american' in the trailers we watched which was hard to recreate. From the title of 'Prom Night' we immediately know it is an American film. Although the common factor we found was that they focused on a female protagonist which we made sure we included. Rather than using lighting as much we focused on the colouring of our trailer in editing. In the trailers we watched there was a lot of dark lighting used when something bad was going to happen, we subverted this by using black and white for the past and colour for the present which gave it a good effect that was easy to understand. In editing also we used an effect to portray the main characters state of mind which involved there being a slightly frenzied shot showing her anger and mentality. We looked at the camera shots used in the trailers we were studying and found that were many close ups on the main characters face when something was going to happen and shots from an outside perspective as if they were being watched. We used a shot similar to this when our character was crushing an unknown mixture, this created a sense of enigma as we had no idea what she was doing. Extreme close ups and close ups were used frequently which we implemented in emotional scenes such as when she is crying. We studied many conventions of thrillers, some we were able to recreate and use others such as the typical American conventions we couldn't.
In terms of Narrative theories, our product following one female protaganist who is becoming obsessed with a boy. Roland Barthes theory can relate to the ending of our trailer as all the audience see is the character walking out of her bedroom door with the unknown mixture in her pocket. As an audience we are left wondering what was in the mixture and where is she going. There being one main protaganist and two other characters featured throughout, being the ex boyfriend and our main characters best friend. Todorovs theory can be applied to the three characters. The protaganist, the antagonist can be perhaps seen as the ex boyfriend as he causes her to become this way and the friend could be seen as the helper as she tries to talk her out of what she is doing and help her. Although our trailer does also subvert this theory as it could be argued that the main character is a victim as she has been hurt and the consequences of the hurt make her become villianous. The whole story revolves around a loss of love and hate which relates to Levi-Strausse's theory of binary oppositions. We see a love/hate relationship because she loves him so much that she hates him because he has hurt her. This is conventional to stereotypes as it is usually assumed that when a break up occurs the woman is always left hurt and emotionally un-stable whereas the man gets on with things.
^^
I didnt know whether we had to write a seperate post with the narrative theories so I have included it with my representation.
Friday, 20 January 2012
Analysis of exsisting products- Plan
Last Years thriller opening-
- Femininity
-Conforms to stereotypical female
-Submissive
-Emotional
-Representation of sterotypical emotion female
-Blonde hair typical
Reference to Gaye Tuchman sex stereotyping in the media.
Majorie Ferguson and facial expressions (crying ect.)
Marxism portraying a dominant image
Examples-
Prom Night
Obsessed
- Femininity
-Conforms to stereotypical female
-Submissive
-Emotional
-Representation of sterotypical emotion female
-Blonde hair typical
Reference to Gaye Tuchman sex stereotyping in the media.
Majorie Ferguson and facial expressions (crying ect.)
Marxism portraying a dominant image
Examples-
Prom Night
Obsessed
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
Internalised Stereotypes
Kidulthood, Adulthood and Fish Tank
1) Correct or Incorrect portrayal?
Kidulthood and Adulthood are directed by Noel Clarke who is a young black male who is more involved with the youth in society whereas Andrea Arnold is an older middle class white woman who has little knowledge of the 'real' youth. Although both films portraying 'typical teenage lives' are highly exagarated with characters such as Becky who sells her body for drugs at the age of 15 which to an adult would be a shocking scene and they would therefore have a negative view whereas in reality this is a minority of teenagers. Although in more modern society it seems to be that teenagers are slowly turning into this stereotype with events such as the London Riots, the tuition fee protests and a rise in teenage pregnancy. With all the negative coverage and portrayals youths are seemingly becoming what they are in the media.
2) Accurate or actual experience?
In Kidulthood there are many experiences, as such going on at one time. Using drugs, being sexually promiscuous, bullying, violence and teenage pregnancy which are all current situations teenagers are associated with whereas in Fish Tank it solely follows Mia and her troubles living with her single mother and dancing as her escape. I think that in Kidulthood it does show contemporary issues but in a very exaggerated way and all of the events overwhelms it but in Fish Tank focusing on one person and their problems shows more of an actual experience that teenagers could personally identify with rather than what they see on the news.
3) An adult fascination of youth?
Noel Clarke is a young man who has grown up in an urban surrounding whereas Andrea Arnold is a 50 year old middle class woman showing that there is perhaps a fascination with youth as two people from two ends of the scale are making films about the youth of today showing different situations they are faced with. Although with Noel Clarke he has personal experience of growing up in an urban setting showing he has perhaps more real knowledge rather than Andrea Arnold when making Fish Tank would have the internalized stereotypes from what the media portrays in her mind.
4) Conforming to the stereotypes circulated by modern day media?
I think in both films the characters are conforming to the stereotypes the media circulate. Mia in Fish Tank is dressed in a tracksuit, hair scraped back and conforms to a typical 'chav' and her behavior reflects what people would see as an 'asbo yob'. Again in Kidulthood the characters in their style and behavior conform to the stereotypes although Becky when we see her home subverts what her upbringing and home life would be as she lives in a big house in a more middle class area. Fish Tank was made in 2009, the way Mia dresses is 'outdated' in the sense that youths especially girls aren't dressing like that so much anymore further emphasing that Arnold is portraying a youth based on the internalised stereotypes modern day media show us.
5) Who makes these media texts?
Adults create these media texts, youths are merely represented rather than presented. Adults are creating these films based on an adults perspective in the media of youths. All the people behind television, newspapers and all media formats are adults and their view is the only one we see. Youths are disenfranchised and represented without any say.
1) Correct or Incorrect portrayal?
Kidulthood and Adulthood are directed by Noel Clarke who is a young black male who is more involved with the youth in society whereas Andrea Arnold is an older middle class white woman who has little knowledge of the 'real' youth. Although both films portraying 'typical teenage lives' are highly exagarated with characters such as Becky who sells her body for drugs at the age of 15 which to an adult would be a shocking scene and they would therefore have a negative view whereas in reality this is a minority of teenagers. Although in more modern society it seems to be that teenagers are slowly turning into this stereotype with events such as the London Riots, the tuition fee protests and a rise in teenage pregnancy. With all the negative coverage and portrayals youths are seemingly becoming what they are in the media.
2) Accurate or actual experience?
In Kidulthood there are many experiences, as such going on at one time. Using drugs, being sexually promiscuous, bullying, violence and teenage pregnancy which are all current situations teenagers are associated with whereas in Fish Tank it solely follows Mia and her troubles living with her single mother and dancing as her escape. I think that in Kidulthood it does show contemporary issues but in a very exaggerated way and all of the events overwhelms it but in Fish Tank focusing on one person and their problems shows more of an actual experience that teenagers could personally identify with rather than what they see on the news.
3) An adult fascination of youth?
Noel Clarke is a young man who has grown up in an urban surrounding whereas Andrea Arnold is a 50 year old middle class woman showing that there is perhaps a fascination with youth as two people from two ends of the scale are making films about the youth of today showing different situations they are faced with. Although with Noel Clarke he has personal experience of growing up in an urban setting showing he has perhaps more real knowledge rather than Andrea Arnold when making Fish Tank would have the internalized stereotypes from what the media portrays in her mind.
4) Conforming to the stereotypes circulated by modern day media?
I think in both films the characters are conforming to the stereotypes the media circulate. Mia in Fish Tank is dressed in a tracksuit, hair scraped back and conforms to a typical 'chav' and her behavior reflects what people would see as an 'asbo yob'. Again in Kidulthood the characters in their style and behavior conform to the stereotypes although Becky when we see her home subverts what her upbringing and home life would be as she lives in a big house in a more middle class area. Fish Tank was made in 2009, the way Mia dresses is 'outdated' in the sense that youths especially girls aren't dressing like that so much anymore further emphasing that Arnold is portraying a youth based on the internalised stereotypes modern day media show us.
5) Who makes these media texts?
Adults create these media texts, youths are merely represented rather than presented. Adults are creating these films based on an adults perspective in the media of youths. All the people behind television, newspapers and all media formats are adults and their view is the only one we see. Youths are disenfranchised and represented without any say.
Friday, 6 January 2012
Do 'Kidulthood' and 'Fish Tank' provide a realistic representation of youth?
A focus on identity requires us to pay close attention to the diverse ways in which media and technologies used in everday life and their consequences both for individuals and social groups- David Buckingham
Kidulthood and Fish Tank are films which both represent youth in a similar way representing the negative hegemonic view of youth in today's society. Both Fish Tank and Kidulthood are Y2K films which represents typical lives of teenagers. Noel Clarke, a young black male who claims to have an understanding of youth being young and living in the urban areas of London as a child. Fish Tank, directed by Andrea Arnold a middle class white woman, follows a similar story line but follows one young girl struggle on an Essex estate. In both films there is an explicit reference to issues such as drug taking, alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancy and teens being sexually promiscuous. Many scenes in the film are shocking and to an adult audience their automatic assumption would be all teenagers act like this when this isn't the case. A small minority of the teenage population are portrayed and the films are both an exaggeration of the truth.
Kidulthood follows a group of teenagers and their different lives. Two girls, one who sells her body for drugs and the other who is 16 and pregnant. Bullying leading to suicide and heavy violence leading to a young boys death. In a review by Total Film it was written "After seeing it, you'll never look at the kids on your bus in the same way again...". Written by an adult, this shows that the view taken from this film is a negative one and the hegemonic view remains. Already a bad reputation, Kidulthood seems to perhaps amplify this. A headline in the sun newspaper also said that it "glamourises violence" which with the high statistics of teenage knife crime already this again amplifies this issue in a negative way making it look acceptable and somewhat 'cool'. The issues raised in Kidulthood may have some prominence in 21st century society among teenagers but in Kidulthood they are highly exaggerated and only a minority of the teenage population are similar to these characters and their lives. Noel Clarke wrote back to critics, "It’s like Trainspotting and drug culture, when people were suddenly awoken to what was actually going on" which to some extent is true because the older generation may not have been aware of the gritty issues facing youth today and Noel Clarke being a young male who has grown up in similar areas would have perhaps experiences such as these.
Fish Tank shows the struggles of 15 year old Mia being brought up on an estate by her single mother who is just as dysfunctional, her only escape is her street dancing. The film contains a lot of symbolism through things such as the horse being chained up and her trying to set it free, perhaps trying to free herself from her everyday struggles. Andrea Arnold being a middle class older woman would have this stereotypical view of youth and this can be seen through the film as she is dressed in a tracksuit with her hair scraped into a ponytail, her language is vulgar and she is going to a referral unit for fighting. Mia conforms to the hegemonic view of teenagers but also Arnold seems to implicitly imply that there is perhaps a glimmer of hope such as when Mia is dancing in the derelict flat and the sky is a ruby red and looks beautiful. This portrayal of youth by Arnold shows that they are disenfranchised and corrupt yet there is hope on the horizon which I personally believe is more of a realistic representation of youth today compared to Kidulthood as although there are many negative issues surrounding the youth of today this in the grand scale of things is a very small minority and there are many redeeming qualities teenagers possess but with society's dominant negative view of them it is understandably hard for this to be seen and consequently teenagers will rebel and not want to prove these representations of youth.
Kidulthood and Fish Tank are films which both represent youth in a similar way representing the negative hegemonic view of youth in today's society. Both Fish Tank and Kidulthood are Y2K films which represents typical lives of teenagers. Noel Clarke, a young black male who claims to have an understanding of youth being young and living in the urban areas of London as a child. Fish Tank, directed by Andrea Arnold a middle class white woman, follows a similar story line but follows one young girl struggle on an Essex estate. In both films there is an explicit reference to issues such as drug taking, alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancy and teens being sexually promiscuous. Many scenes in the film are shocking and to an adult audience their automatic assumption would be all teenagers act like this when this isn't the case. A small minority of the teenage population are portrayed and the films are both an exaggeration of the truth.
Kidulthood follows a group of teenagers and their different lives. Two girls, one who sells her body for drugs and the other who is 16 and pregnant. Bullying leading to suicide and heavy violence leading to a young boys death. In a review by Total Film it was written "After seeing it, you'll never look at the kids on your bus in the same way again...". Written by an adult, this shows that the view taken from this film is a negative one and the hegemonic view remains. Already a bad reputation, Kidulthood seems to perhaps amplify this. A headline in the sun newspaper also said that it "glamourises violence" which with the high statistics of teenage knife crime already this again amplifies this issue in a negative way making it look acceptable and somewhat 'cool'. The issues raised in Kidulthood may have some prominence in 21st century society among teenagers but in Kidulthood they are highly exaggerated and only a minority of the teenage population are similar to these characters and their lives. Noel Clarke wrote back to critics, "It’s like Trainspotting and drug culture, when people were suddenly awoken to what was actually going on" which to some extent is true because the older generation may not have been aware of the gritty issues facing youth today and Noel Clarke being a young male who has grown up in similar areas would have perhaps experiences such as these.
Fish Tank shows the struggles of 15 year old Mia being brought up on an estate by her single mother who is just as dysfunctional, her only escape is her street dancing. The film contains a lot of symbolism through things such as the horse being chained up and her trying to set it free, perhaps trying to free herself from her everyday struggles. Andrea Arnold being a middle class older woman would have this stereotypical view of youth and this can be seen through the film as she is dressed in a tracksuit with her hair scraped into a ponytail, her language is vulgar and she is going to a referral unit for fighting. Mia conforms to the hegemonic view of teenagers but also Arnold seems to implicitly imply that there is perhaps a glimmer of hope such as when Mia is dancing in the derelict flat and the sky is a ruby red and looks beautiful. This portrayal of youth by Arnold shows that they are disenfranchised and corrupt yet there is hope on the horizon which I personally believe is more of a realistic representation of youth today compared to Kidulthood as although there are many negative issues surrounding the youth of today this in the grand scale of things is a very small minority and there are many redeeming qualities teenagers possess but with society's dominant negative view of them it is understandably hard for this to be seen and consequently teenagers will rebel and not want to prove these representations of youth.
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